Shrink experts choose digital and offset technology to lead the way

The Dwyer Group has made a significant investment to move into process color offset shrink sleeve production.  In the past twelve months the company has installed an RDP Marathon IVCO press at its Pennsylvania location, and an HP Indigo WS6000 digital press in California.

The Group developed by supplying tamper evident seals for the bakery and dairy markets, but as CEO Jim Dwyer explained: ‘Most of the commodity business has evolved into a bigger footprint for items such as party-sized fruit and salad trays with bigger containers, whereas printed shrink sleeves have grown in popularity in pharmaceuticals, dairy, beverage, household products and even pet food containers.’ 

The company is using the digital press to create prototypes to drive sales for the high volume offset press.  Dwyer explained: ‘Our whole business model is just-in-time delivery.  The prototyping allows us to get our foot in the door to show the quality of product we can produce, and reduce overall time-to-market.’

He plans to carry this JIT philosophy into the printing side of shrink production.  Discounting gravure on cleanliness grounds, he accepted that there would be trade offs and limitations in selecting another print process.  With few other companies in North America producing shrink sleeves with offset technology, Dwyer opted to invest in an RDP Marathon eight-color 38” Infinite Variable Cylinder Offset press.

All water-based, the offset press allows Dwyer to shorten lead times with its quick changeover capability.  In combination with digital prototyping as a speed-to-market tool, Dwyer stated: ‘We have compressed the time-line to get through the finished process in 2-3 weeks from concept to consumer.  It’s all now possible with the technology.’ 

The only printing in California is now digital.  The HP Indigo has color matching software installed to match the digital print to the offset print.  Rather than purchasing a new coating line, costs were reduced by combining flexo stations inline to varnish and prime the materials for the digital machine.

‘Our target market is medium sized companies, but also those larger firms currently producing flexo sleeves who want the quality of offset.  Now, they can upgrade with no extra front and little added total cost,’ he explained.